emerald6273
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Posts posted by emerald6273
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1 minute ago, CruisingFox27 said:
We've just received our communication regarding the changes for our November sailing, thankfully no mention of a date that we'd need to decide by. I'd hoped for time to decide on an alternative itinerary.
I booked with UK travel agent who have forwarded the MSC correspondence. Correspondence from MSC ends with
'We kindly ask you to let us know how you wish to proceed by June 13th'.
CruisingFox27 did you book through a UK travel agent?
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39 minutes ago, mickey89 said:
That's very generous of them giving you a week to decide.
Next time you want to book a cruise use a USA travel agent, your deposit will be refundable and you wouldn't give them the chance to shaft you again.
Normally always price both my US and UK travel agents. Ended up using UK travel agent as my US travel agent 'didn't sell MSC'. Think I maybe know now why!
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Have a 2020 sailing on Armonia. MSC have given me until 13 June 2019 to determine whether I stay on Armonia accepting the $400 OBC or avail of option to change to different ship/sailing date transferring deposit. In order for me to make an informed decision as whether I still cruise and pay for a transatlantic airfares from Ireland to Miami I need to know which of the alternative ports will be used on my revised itinerary? I'm aware that up until end of August 2019 the Ocho Rios, George Town itinerary which I'm on has Cozumel and Costa Maya as alternative ports. Really like to know before by 13 June 2019 if Cozumel and Costa Maya are still the planned alternative ports on my 2020 cruise?
Have tried contacting MSC by telephone and email and still haven't an answer. Ordinarily I wouldn't book a cruise without knowing the full itinerary!
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8 hours ago, Fredric22 said:
While I don't think MSC is being overly generous, I do think they are being reasonable considering the ship is only scheduled to be in Cuba for 1 day. If the ONLY reason you went on this cruise was to see Cuba, and you didn't care about the other "boring" Caribbean ports then this may not have been the best cruise/itinerary choice available. There were cruises scheduled on other lines that visited multiple Cuban ports. Some 7 day cruises spent almost the entire time in Cuban ports. Now, if I was on one of those cruises and then this happened, I would expect a refund because the cruise was truly a Cuban cruise. In this case, it was a cruise to the Caribbean that included a stop in Cuba.
Also, I do not agree that MSC is a "budget cruise line." While they may have low fares in some categories, MSC is a mass market cruise line just like RCL, NCL, Carnival, Costa, etc.
Havana was an overnight stop for us hence the reason why I booked this cruise.
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1 hour ago, sidari said:
Harv ... I get where you are coming from and it can be galling having to wait for information especially when there is a need to book flights especially with the distances involved, we needed to book in January for Xmas this year but were unable to due to my other half being off work I'll and not being able to put in for the time off. Luckily in the last few weeks flights at the right price came up with Aer Lingus via Dublin.
Yes Sidari as you know being based in Ireland there's a bit more planning around transatlantic flights. I think folk forget that who are based closer to Florida. Glad you got sorted for Aer Lingus Xmas flights.
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8 minutes ago, sidari said:
They are hardly going to be worried about next year just yet especially as they are dealing with there here and now. It might be that they remove Armonia early next year!
I'll be travelling from Ireland and need to book flights soon. If they're going to remove the sailing I'd rather know sooner rather than later. I did receive MSC correspondence via my travel agent with the $400 OBC to stay with Armonia or change to different ship options. Given until 13th June to confirm preferred option. If MSC were considering removing Armonia I don't think they would have communicated those options to people on the 2020 sailings?
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18 minutes ago, AerynSun_JohnCrighton said:
Does anyone have the updated itinerary in their MSC website booking yet? Just curious as to if they will be able to add any shore excursions to the stops they used as replacements or will we need to check once onboard.
Sailing next year and still no updated itinerary.
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17 hours ago, EngIceDave said:
I don't understand why people seem to think MSC (or any other cruise line) owes them anything for actions not of their own, had no hand in, and is solely due to the US Government?
If a hurricane wiped out part of the Caribbean again (and will happen again) is everyone due compensation by their cruise line?
If someone wants to do something, fine, but why act as if it's somehow due you?
I've previously experienced an 11 night Carribean itinerary being totally revamped due to a hurricane wiping out part of the Carribean. I had no absolutely no problem accepting a totally different itinerary as I had booked a 'Carribean' cruise and the itinerary was replaced with 'Caribbean' ports.
On this occasion I booked a 'Cuba' cruise with MSC at a higher price as it was visiting Cuba. If I've booked a Cuba cruise I don't expect it to be replaced with Carribean cruise. I would like MSC to do the decent thing and refund my deposit in the same way other cruiselines are dealing with customers.
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8 hours ago, thetaro said:
This is not a court, who cares if MSC is responsible or liable.
The only thing I know is that it's a situation like this you know RCL > NCL > MSC and people are going to take it into consideration when they book the next cruise.
I am from the US and I am glad I can cancel. Cuba itinerary is more expensive. The $400 OBC is simply not attractive. It's a joke comparing to what RCL/NCL offered. I canceled Armonia and rebooked a similar cabin on Meraviglia for $500 cheaper and it's a newer and bigger ship. Not to mention Armonia price is probably going to drop when they can't fill the ship.
This mess doesn't bother me too much as I can easily cancel and rebook something else, but I understand why some people are upset when they pay a higher price for a lesser product and MSC is using the T&C to protect themselves. Why force people to get on a ship that they don't care anymore?
Totally agree. This is my first MSC experience after 15 cruises. For us this will be the most expensive cruise departing from Florida we will pay for. Plus we've transatlantic flights to still purchase. Also the oldest ship I will probably ever sail on visiting ports I've seen many times. I've duly noted how MSC responded to this situation in comparison to other cruiselines. Unfortunately being from UK I lose deposit if I cancel.
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8 minutes ago, rwdtgb said:
Actually Mickey I am American and I am happy with what MSC is doing for us and our now changed sailing on the Armonia. I am also pleased with the customer service I have received from the customer service agents on the phone. We were also on The Armonia back in May and could not be happier with the product they offered and the level of service we received. We have been fortunate enough to have cruised over 50 plus times on many different lines.
I'm from Ireland and have cruised Carribean many times. Taking into account the transatlantic airfare, we select our cruises based purely on itinerary to make that airfare and journey worthwhile. Cuba would have made that trip worthwhile. This will be our first MSC experience.
I would not have chosen to cruise the same Carribean ports I've visited many times previously especially at a more expensive rate. In fact I was only in Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Costa Costa Maya months ago. It is what it is!
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37 minutes ago, Cauzneffct said:
Our sailing isn't until March of 2020, and last night they sent an email giving us the revised itinerary . . . for the June 10, 2019 sailing. Which isn't even the same (original) itinerary as ours (ie, its the Jamaica/Cayman whereas we were the Roatan/Costa Maya). In any event, the replacement ports aren't really enticing so we're going to cancel.
My UK travel agent hasn't heard anything from MSC UK. They contacted MSC UK on my behalf today who still were unable to give them any info or confirm sailing is affected despite me knowing different. If we cancel would lose deposit.
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Wish MSC UK website was updated with same info as MSC US website. Notice information relating to future reservations and itineraries up until August 2019 posted on news section of MSC US website. MSC UK website news section as yet mentions nothing about future reservations. Also wonder when anyone sailing beyond August 2019 like myself will have confirmation of updated itinerary.
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10 minutes ago, Beamafar said:
I don't blame you! We had a problem with a booking on Divina when we discovered that it had been chartered by Holistic Holidays at Sea. We were only offered a cruise move within very limited parameters which left us no choice but to cancel and lose our deposit.
Yes have definitely experienced more `flexibility' with other cruiselines around deposits like being able to transfer deposit to different sailing without incurring any losses. Before all this happened I had tried to change my Armonia sailing date to 1 week earlier a couple of days after making initial reservation. MSC told me I would lose deposit despite sailing being year away!
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14 minutes ago, Barcelona17 said:
Even Carnival is offering refunds.
Uk based and this is my first MSC experience after 15 cruises with other cruiselines. Disappointed with the no deposit refund option. 😒
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5 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:
That's probably the case with US-based agents, too, but just as an example, I found balconies on NCL that were $500 per person cheaper than we what we paid on MSC. If the lost deposit is only $100 pp, we'd still come out ahead.
I have been searching and haven't found any balcony price comparable on another cruise line for May 2020. We had booked an Aurea Balcony which includes Easy Package. Priced Carnival and NCL but by the time I included drinks package was working out more than Armonia plus loss of deposit.
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56 minutes ago, AerynSun_JohnCrighton said:
Go to the Cuba, uh, oh. Thread. MSC has posted more information and up to date.
5 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:We've only paid our initial deposit and still have plenty of time until we have to make the final payment, so for now we're standing pat. In the meantime I'll check with our TA periodically to see if there are any good deals to be had, either on MSC or other lines. Someone mentioned canceling this cruise and rebooking later if prices drop, and that might be an even better deal financially than the $400 OBC.
Unfortunately anyone who booked through a UK travel agent will lose deposit if they decide to not sail with MSC.
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3 minutes ago, Jayhawk said:
thanks. Costa Maya ideas anyone??
I visited Costa Maya in March 2019 and was very underwhelmed. Just avoid private beach days.
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19 minutes ago, BermudaBound2014 said:
Looks like you are going to Costa Maya. This is a very unique port in that the cruise lines were really building it up to be something special, but the Saragassum issue came and it's bad :(. With that said, I would not recommend any beach day here. There are some ruin tours that are offered that get good reviews. Connected to the pier is an 'maya village market'. Lots of little shops. A chance to swim with dolphins (would not recommend), a swim up bar and pool, etc... It's a self contained area. When I stop here, I visit this area just to stretch my legs and end up using this as a ship day.
I would definitely agree on avoiding any private beach days at Costa Maya. We visited Maya Chan beach in March 2019 and Saragassum was really bad and such an awful smell. We had to leave the beach as it was so bad. Please see photo.
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1 hour ago, CruisingFox27 said:
Hopefully the waiving of usual cancellation policy will allow us UK passengers to cancel and receive our deposits back. As we are awhile away from our sail date I'd not booked flights etc., so will be happy just to cancel and receive our deposit.
Deposit refund doesn't look likely. I'm in the same boat pardon the pun. Looks like options are to stick with Armonia or move deposit to different MSC sailing.
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I was really hoping to get deposit refunded but doesn't look very likely 😞 Might have to suck up loss of deposit. The Armonia itinerary without Cuba does not appeal. Cruised all those ports many times. At least we hadn't booked our transatlantic flights.
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My UK based travel agent has yet to receive any information from MSC about future sailings.
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1 hour ago, rwdtgb said:
MSC only found out about the new restrictions and travel ban when we all did yesterday.
Didn't realise. I guess MSC have been caught unaware. A lot of people seem to book Armonia for the Cuba stop. That's the reason why I booked.
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MSC are bound to have known this before cruise actually commenced but only inform passengers now! I'd be gutted. Have booked Armonia for May 2020. It's a UK booking so if we cancelled will lose deposit. Only booked as Cuba was on itinerary.
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38 minutes ago, sidari said:
Word is its due to uncertainty over Trump, should be news about Armonia in a few days time.
Will be gutted if Armonia is affected. Booked my first MSC cruise for May 2020. Booked because of Cuba itinerary. Wonder if Armonia is affected would they offer refunds or just adjust itinerary?
Cuba.....uh, oh.
in MSC Cruises
Posted
We're on the 18 May 2020 sailing. I thought the Cozumel/Costa Maya ports were on the Ocho Rios itinerary and Cozumel/Key West on the Roatan itinerary?